Davy Jones, the lead singer of the the first manufactured band*, The Monkees, has died. Jones was 66. He suffered a heart attack this morning and was rushed to the hospital where he was pronounced dead.
Jones was hired to as the singer for The Monkees in 1965 by producers for NBC, who were hoping to make a manufactured knock-off of The Beatles for a television show. (The Beatles were not offended; in fact, asked by one of the members of The Monkees what he thought of the show, John Lennon replied, “I think you’re the greatest comic talent since the Marx Brothers. I’ve never missed one of your programs.”) Jones left The Monkees in 1971. There was talk as recently as last year, however, of a Monkees reunion.
In 2008, Davy Jones was voted by Yahoo! as the greatest teen idol of all time. The character of Chekhov, from “Star Trek,” was also inspired by Jones.
Here’s one of The Monkees’ more famous hits, “I’m a Believer,” which was written by Neil Diamond. It was the biggest hit of 1967 in America.
* (I have no idea if The Monkees were the first manufactured band, but they’re the first I’m familiar with.)
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Then I saw this page, now I’m a bereaver.
NO SUCH THING AS TOO SOON.
+1. Good shit Stinky Pete.
I have no comment really…I just figured this was as good a place as any to say the word “Tork.”
Looks like he caught the last train to Clotsville.
damn, man.
The Monkees > The Beatles
Agreed!
Whoa! No way.
YES WAY.
Incorrect. However, Head is at least as good as any Beatles movie.
Thanks Chazz, but I will return the mix-tape you sent unopened.
Sorry Sleepy Jean, your day is fucked.
I know that at least the Supremes preceded the Monkees, but when it comes to manufactured bands by non-studio/producers I think they were the first. So yeah, the Monkees paved the way for every band that came from MTV’s Making the Band, all those Disney bands that first derived from TV shows, and Glee.
Thanks a lot Davy.
Does Elvis count? Because he was pretty much manufactured by record labels to sell black music to white people.
Should of been you guy from Smash Mouth.
Should of been you, guy from Puddle of Mudd.
Should have been you, uh … Shrek?
Should have been you, all guys from Nickelback.
Dustin: There WAS a Monkees reunion last year, sans Woolie. I was there to see them in Atlantic City and those old dudes rocked. Davy, you’ll be missed.
Worst leap day ever.
The Monkees get a bad rap to this day, and it’s bullshit. They sold TONS of records, had a bunch of memorable songs, grew a pair and told the record company to go fuck themselves, adn at least made an honest effort to succeed as an honest to God band. That’s more than most of the Rock n Roll Hall of Fame as I see it.
Also, true story: Peter Tork gave John Lennon his first ever hit of acid. WHO INFLUENCED WHO?
NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO I really liked the monkees tv show, this sucks, rest in peace Davy
Something something Davy Jones’ Locker.
I saw the Monkees in Portland, OR last summer.
Two hour show and they were awesome. They made lots of jokes about their age, but they rocked the house and were more active on stage than many young artists I’ve seen. You’re missed Davy
Reg! Reginald Fairfield!